PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarmo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Harkimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hovi comes to the cage accompanied by Vesa-Matti Loiri - Armo. Harkimo has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hovi
vs
Harkimo

200 cm
30
224 lbs
20 - 7 - 1

214 cm
33
266 lbs
28 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
Pearson Specter Litt

Kemists ↑™ 5x160Q - $149-199
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tarmo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keijo Harkimo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Harkimo throws a leg kick that misses.
Tarmo Hovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harkimo misses with an uppercut. Hovi saw that one coming.
Hovi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hovi takes a swing at Harkimo's ribcage but misses.
Harkimo throws a hook but Hovi blocks it.
Hovi jabs Harkimo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hovi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hovi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hovi avoids the head kick by Harkimo.
Harkimo's coach down at Lebowski MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Harkimo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hovi avoids the head kick by Harkimo.
Hovi misses with a head kick.
Harkimo defending well as Hovi loads up on a big left hand.

Harkimo drives through and clinches with Hovi against the cage.
Hovi misses with a punch to the body.

Harkimo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hovi uses from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hovi stands up over Harkimo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Harkimo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harkimo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hovi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Harkimo.
Harkimo is looking for a sweep.
Hovi lands a few punches from side control.
Hovi working the head with strikes.
Hovi looks up at the clock and then as Harkimo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hovi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hovi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Harkimo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Harkimo is looking for a sweep.
Hovi misses with the ground and pound.
Hovi is chipping away with strikes.
Harkimo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Harkimo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hovi is working away from the top position though.
Hovi throwing shots but Harkimo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Harkimo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hovi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Harkimo is just riding it out for now. Hovi eventually gives up the hold.
Harkimo wants to control but Hovi is keeping busy.
Hovi wants to pass to mount but Harkimo is defending the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harkimo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harkimo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harkimo keeps trying to improve his position.
Hovi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harkimo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hovi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Harkimo's head.
Hovi with a flurry of punches that miss.

Harkimo working for a triangle but Hovi defends it easily.
Hovi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harkimo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hovi is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hovi stopping the sweep attempt from Harkimo.
Hovi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harkimo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Harkimo looking to control.
Hovi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harkimo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hovi throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Harkimo counter with a right hand.
Hovi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hovi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harkimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Hovi is looking to counter with head kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tarmo Hovi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harkimo slips under a jab from Hovi.
Harkimo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hovi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hovi looks to land a body kick but Harkimo moved away.
Harkimo is trying to counter with his kicks.
Hovi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Tarmo Hovi has been cut.
A thudding body kick lands there by Harkimo!
Harkimo connects with a looping right hand.
Hovi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Harkimo.
Hovi throws a lazy right hand but Harkimo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hovi misses with an uppercut
enabling Harkimo to counter with a crisp jab.
Hovi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hovi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hovi misses with the combination.
Hovi throws an off balance right hand
and Harkimo counters with a body kick.
Hovi lands with a right hand.

Harkimo cracks Hovi with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Harkimo has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Hovi to stand back up!

Hovi is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkimo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Oh Hovi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hovi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harkimo works Hovi's body with a nice hook.

Harkimo forces Hovi back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Harkimo as the two fighters clinch.
Harkimo creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Hovi's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Hovi drops to his knees and Harkimo pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keijo Harkimo!
An out of breath Keijo Harkimo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.